Opinion Oasis: Do we really need ultra HD stuff?
Been a while since I did one of these blog posts. So let's fix that, yeah? Tell ya' what, I'm gonna start doing a blog series called Opinion Oasis. This is where I talk about any opinions I have about stuff. Besides, I think the world could use a bit of help to break any tunnel vision. And the added benefit of this being a blog is that there's nobody here telling me "oh, your opinion is stupid" or doing any other thing like that. It's just me, this screen, and maybe a coffee or two.
And to get this train moving.... I've had this question of whether or not we really need all this HD, 1080p or 1440p, +60 FPS content. I personally feel like this is a digital luxury, if you will.
I've had nothing but content times with me and my Innioasis Y1. I got it a while ago back when the FIFA World Cup was going on back in August. Main reason was so that I didn't have to rely on my phone to just listen to music and watch any videos that I've saved/downloaded. It's a lovely little nugget that I've dubbed Lilac (after one of the playable characters of Freedom Planet). It's got 64 gigs for me to utilize, and while I do have a 256 gig MicroSD, I haven't really found the need to dissect and transplant said card honestly. I've been hanging out just fine with the 64 gigs inside this device! I've got Deltarune music, some shows, and of course my videos. Now, you might be wondering why or how I have all these videos and more, and it's very simple!
I use Handbrake. I've been using Handbrake to compress videos down to just the single digit megabytes (and even kilobytes in some cases). Since the Y1 has screen that's about 30%, 40% smaller than that of a DSi screen, videos look absolutely fine on this thing, all while keeping things nice and very lean! Besides you don't need something in HD on a screen as small as that now, come on.
Outside of the Y1, whenever I would watch videos by using PipePipe or Grayjay, the max quality of videos that I roll with is 480p. I never really found a need to go higher than that. I don't watch stuff on large screens, but the fact I can have all this and more by compressing content down to without needing to sacrifice storage, it feels good!
Did I forget to mention that me having the Y1 means that anything I put on it is local and offline? I don't need an internet connection if I want to watch Sonic OVA or listen to some Deltarune covers that I saved with Soundcloak! Unlike how a lotta services these days ask for an internet connection and make you sign up for all this stuff, not to mention possible DRM, too. What's a good example for this part.....? Oh right! Microslop's Windows 11!
Windows 11, the bloated, curve-edged, AI-that-nobody-fucking-asked-for operating system. Yet people still rely on this when there's clearly a better option without sacrificing a penny. What has Microslop done? They patched out the possibility of making a local account. Nowadays when you install Windows 11, you have to give it an internet connection and it bruteforces you to make a useless Outlook email in order to even begin using Windows itself. Well what if I don't want to make an email just for their crummy services? I'm shit outta luck buddy! I either don't use Windows or I have to make an email and then later disable/remove all the bloatware junk they like to shove in people's faces. Lookin' at you, Copilot.
Another good example would be low-tier junk that you'd get on sites like Temu. Say for example you find a watch that has all these different features. What's one of the things it asks you for? To download it's accompanying application on the iOS store or Google Play, and make an account for it! Having a bunch of spam in my inbox on top of low-tier garbage? Noooooooooooooooo way! I just want the device as a device. It's not too much to ask for!
Like imagine wanting a computer but that computer is on a string that constantly repels you unless you agree to doing something dumb for someone. Please, I can just flash a Linux distro instead and I don't have to go through so many shady hoops!
I'm probably derailing a bit here but I'm sure you get the point. In my opinion, anything that's like 480p is like the sweet spot. Is something too large in file size? Just trim out all the fat with Handbrake! No need to sacrifice an SSD just so you can watch the entirety of The Office or Helluva Boss locally! All this spouting about 1440p, ultra HD stuff is nothing but luxury, and frankly we can live without that luxury. Besides, your hard drive deserves more important stuff than a video that takes up as much as Windows 11 does!